Medical access sheath
First Claim
1. An access sheath for expanding an opening in biological tissue from a first cross-sectional area to a second larger cross-sectional area, the sheath comprising:
- a hub having a distal end and a proximal end and an opening extending therethrough;
a substantially tubular mesh extending through the hub and comprising a distal portion that extends from the distal end of the hub and a proximal portion that extends proximally from the proximal end of the hub;
a radially expandable standoff that extends distally from the hub and is coupled to a distal portion of the mesh and to the hub; and
a compression mechanism configured to advance the proximal portion of the mesh distally towards the hub causing axial compression and diametrical expansion of the mesh.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable sheath is insertable into a patient through an incision. Once inserted and advanced to the target surgical site, the sheath can be expanded to an enlarged diameter. The wall of the sheath is fabricated from a tubular structure comprising filamentous elements that extend axially and at least partially circumferentially along the length of the sheath. The tubular filamentous material is drawn or expanded axially to create the small diameter configuration that is inserted into the patient. A standoff attaches the distal end of the tubular filamentous material to the sheath hub by way of radially movable anchors. Additional filamentous tubular material extends out the proximal end of the hub. A compression mechanism forces the additional filamentous tubular material in the distal direction which causes axial compression and radial or diametric dilation of the working length of the sheath, that part of the sheath that extends beyond the proximal end of the hub. Radial dilation is accomplished with no substantial change in sheath working length.
343 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An access sheath for expanding an opening in biological tissue from a first cross-sectional area to a second larger cross-sectional area, the sheath comprising:
-
a hub having a distal end and a proximal end and an opening extending therethrough;
a substantially tubular mesh extending through the hub and comprising a distal portion that extends from the distal end of the hub and a proximal portion that extends proximally from the proximal end of the hub;
a radially expandable standoff that extends distally from the hub and is coupled to a distal portion of the mesh and to the hub; and
a compression mechanism configured to advance the proximal portion of the mesh distally towards the hub causing axial compression and diametrical expansion of the mesh. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of providing access to a surgical site;
- comprising;
inserting a sheath, which comprises a hub and an expandable tubular member that extends through the hub, into an incision;
advancing a distal portion of the tubular member to a target depth; and
expanding the distal portion of the tubular member diametrically while simultaneously advancing a proximal portion of the tubular member distally toward the hub. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- comprising;
-
18. A surgical access device for expanding an opening in a patient, comprising:
-
a hub having a distal end and a proximal end and an opening extending therethrough;
a radially expandable tubular body comprising a distal portion that extends distally of the hub, a proximal portion that extends proximally of the hub, and an axial lumen therethrough; and
means for applying an axially compressive force to the tubular body to reversibly expand the axial lumen from a first, smaller, diameter to a second, larger diameter, without substantially shortening the axial length of the distal portion of the tubular body.
-
-
19. A method of providing access to a surgical site;
- comprising;
providing a sheath having a hub and an expandable tubular member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending distally of the hub and the proximal portion extending proximally of the hub;
inserting the distal portion of the tubular member into an incision;
advancing the distal portion of the tubular member to a target depth; and
expanding the distal portion of the tubular member diametrically without substantially changing the axial length of the distal portion with respect to the hub. - View Dependent Claims (20)
- comprising;
Specification